The name "Rhosddu" derives from the Welsh for "black moor", a reference to the poorly drained moors with peat and coal to the north of the community.

Today Rhosddu community comprises three distinct and separate wards.

Grosvenor grew up along Rhosddu Road, leading out of the town centre to the north. The ward has a wide range of architectural styles in the terraces built to replace the slum courts in the town centre. St James church was built in 1874. Walnut Tree Farm around the Prices Lane area gave its name to the Walnut Tree pub, with the distinctive Walnut St houses being built in the 1880 s. Today Grosvenor ward includes the historic buildings of Coleg Cambria, Wrexham AFC and Wrexham University.

Further up, Stansty ward developed as the railway in 1868 and Rhosddu Colliery in 1871 were constructed. It boasts several old buildings, notably Stansty Lodge from the 1880s and Stansty Villa from 1842. The Croeseneurys estate was built on the old Croeseneurys farm estate. Rhosddu School and Rhosddu Community Church are built from the familiar red brick seen around Wrexham. The railway bisects Stansty, with the bridge carrying the line over Stansty Road.

The Garden Village estate was a model village built around 1914, with a very distinctive architectural style. It was the first such development in Wales. The estate had its own church, tennis club, bowling green, shops and a village institute which is still in use today. The grander houses on Acton Gate were built for colliery management. The Ty Gwyn estate was developed from the Ty Gwyn Farm. A part of the historic Wats Dyke, built between 640 and 750A D, runs along the western edge of Garden Village.

Text condensed from The Encyclopaedia of Wrexham by W Alister Williams, with additions from Dr Gareth Carr of Wrexham University.